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Posts tagged as “NBC”

Alfre Woodard to Play President in NBC's "State of Affairs"

By goodblacknews on March 23, 2014
Alfre Woodard
PHOTO CREDIT: JASON MERRITT/GETTY IMAGES

Alfre Woodard has been elected to play Madame President in Katherine Heigl‘s new political drama State of Affairs.  According to the Hollywood Reporter, the drama described as Scandal meets The West Wing, will see the 12 Years a Slave actress as President Roberta Payton.

Woodard’s character enlists a CIA agent, played by Heigl, to give her counsel on incidents around the world. The plot follows Heigl as she takes on the role of targeting America’s most critical threats while balancing the demands of a complex personal life.
The casting puts Woodard in the company of several other African-American women leads on pilots this season including Taraji P. Henson, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer.
article by Dominique Hobdy via essence.com

Rob Brown to Co-Star in NBC's Church Drama "Salvation"

By goodblacknews on March 3, 2014

brownComing off HBO’s Treme, Rob Brown (Finding Forrester, Coach Carter) has joined NBC’s drama pilot Salvation. In the project, written by Elizabeth Heldens and directed by Jeffrey Reiner, mega-church Pastor Daniel Strickland suddenly dies, and his loyal wife, Jennifer Strickland (Ashley Judd), must rally to keep their family together and save the church. Brown, repped by WME, Industry Entertainment and Jeff Endlich, will play Miles Strickland, the adopted son of Jennifer and Daniel Strickland who returns home after a 6-year absence out of a sense of loyalty to the family but does not share in their beliefs. He most recently seen in Joseph Gordon Levitt’s directorial debut Don Jon.
article by Nellie Andreeva via Deadline.com

First Lady Michelle Obama to Appear in "Parks and Recreation" Season Finale to Promote "Let's Move"

By goodblacknews on February 28, 2014
WASHINGTON (AP) — NBC’s Parks and Recreation is getting a stunning new cast member for a night: First Lady Michelle Obama.  According to the Associated Press, the first lady’s office says Mrs. Obama will appear on the show’s April 24th season finale.  The show’s Twitter account said it’s “time to get real about Pawnee’s obesity,” which is  a reference to Pawnee, Indiana, the fictional town where Parks and Recreation takes place, and the first lady’s campaign against child obesity.  Obama recently appeared in a comedy sketch on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon with Fallon and Will Ferrell also designed to promote “Let’s Move.”
Parks and Recreation star Amy Poehler helped the campaign earlier this week when she appeared at a “Let’s Move” event in Miami, where Mrs. Obama joked that she and Poehler are best friends.  Mrs. Obama won’t be the first White House figure to appear on the show. Vice President Joe Biden made a cameo on the show in 2012.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson

Tamron Hall Officially Joins NBC's "Today" show as Co-Host

By goodblacknews on February 24, 2014

TODAY -- Pictured: (l-r) Tamron Hall, Willie Geist, Natalie Morales, Al Roker -- (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC)
Tamron Hall appears Monday morning on ‘The Today Show’ with Willie Geist, Natalie Morales and Al Roker (NBC)

NBC News’ Tamron Hall has joined Today as an official co-host for the morning show.  Hall’s new gig was announced on the telecast Monday morning. She will join Al Roker, Natalie Morales and Willie Geist for morning show’s 9 a.m. hour.  Hall, a longtime MSNBC anchor and regular fill-in on the show, recently interviewed Hugh Jackman and Mariah Carey and has spent time in the Today social network-themed Orange Room.

“We’re really excited to officially welcome Tamron into the Today family,” said Don Nash, Executive Producer in a statement.  “She brings wit, enthusiasm and a keen sensibility to an all-around fantastic team, and I think Tamron, Al, Natalie and Willie will have a lot of fun together hosting the third hour.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/tameron-hall-joins-nbc-news-today-show-co-host-article-1.1699800#ixzz2uHMrLxJ2

JUST FOR FUN: Will Smith and Jimmy Fallon Perform "Evolution of Hip-Hop Dancing" on The Tonight Show (VIDEO)

By goodblacknews on February 18, 2014
Will Smith, Jimmy Fallon, Tonight Show
(Lloyd Bishop/NBC)

Jimmy Fallon loves the ’90s. Like, really, really loves the ’90s.  After famously reuniting the casts of Saved by the Bell and Full House on Late Night, the 39-year-old comedian gave a nod The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air during his first-ever time hosting The Tonight Show Monday. Of course, he couldn’t have done it without a little help from his first guest, Will Smith.

Dressed in overalls and printed tees, the duo performed the “Evolution of Hip-Hop Dancing,” showing off moves ranging from the “Cabbage Patch” and the “Running Man” to the “Robot” and the “Pop and Lock.” Other signatures included “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” “Kid ‘N Play,” “MC Hammer” and “The Carlton.” Unfortunately, Smith’s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air costar Alfonso Ribeiro didn’t make a cameo.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTpn30Pms8I&w=560&h=315]
And while they both attempted to do the “Leg Thing No One Can Do,” it was the “Spank That” move that tripped Smith up. Fallon transitioned into “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” but Smith was still spanking it.  The funnymen recovered and decided to “Make It Rain” before “Picking Up the Money Because That’s all You Had.” When Fallon began to demonstrate the “Twerk,” 45-year-old Smith bowed out and walked offstage.
The recurring bit is a fan favorite. During his tenure on Late Night, Fallon performed “The History of Rap” with Justin Timberlake; the singer later helped Fallon with his “Evolution of End Zone Dancing” tutorial. Fallon also once demonstrated “The Evolution of Mom Dancing” with First Lady Michelle Obama.
article by Zach Johnson via eonline.com

Bill Cosby Returns to NBC for Family Comedy

By goodblacknews on January 22, 2014
Bill Cosby
(Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

NBC is re-teaming with Bill Cosby and producer Tom Werner on a family comedy.  While there is no pilot order and no studio is attached, NBC has confirmed that they are hiring writers and Cosby would star “as a patriarch in a multigenerational family.”  The Cosby Show, which Werner produced through his production company with Marcy Carsey, ran from 1984 to 1992 on NBC. The sitcom Cosby, which the comedian developed with John Markus and also costarred actress Phylicia Rashad, ran from 1996 to 2000 on CBS.

Partnerships with 1980s and ’90s TV stars seems to be a theme at NBC, where The Michael J. Fox Show is fairing okay in ratings. (Tim Allen’s Last Man Standing on ABC is doing better). The Cosby news happened a day after NBC announced it was scrapping its Murder She Wrote reboot with Octavia Spencer.
article by Whitney Friedlander via Variety.com

NBC Orders Comedy Pilot From Rashida Jones

By goodblacknews on January 10, 2014

Rashida JonesAccording to Variety.com, NBC is back in the Rashida Jones business.  The former Parks & Recreation star is returning to her single-camera roots with A to Z, a half-hour comedy set in the world of an online dating company that details the “A to Zs” of a relationship. The ensemble cast will navigate the complicated world of modern dating.
Ben Queen is writing and executive producing A to Z alongside Will McCormack and Jones, who is also an EP on the project.  Warner Bros. TV and Le Train Train are producing the project.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson

Zoe Saldana to Star in NBC Miniseries "Rosemary’s Baby"

By goodblacknews on January 9, 2014

zoe saldanaAccording to Variety.com, Zoe Saldana has been hired to star in NBC’s four-hour miniseries remake of the classic 1968 horror film, Rosemary’s Baby. Saldana will play Rosemary, the iconic young wife and would-be mother who, with her husband, moves into a Paris apartment building that has a dark, storied past. After finally getting pregnant, she becomes increasingly suspicious that both her husband and their mysterious neighbors have ulterior motives about the future of her child.
NBC announced the Rosemary’s Baby miniseries in December, with Lionsgate TV attached to produce.  Joshua Maurer, Alix Witlin and David Stern are executive producing with Saldana, Cisely Saldana and Mariel Saldana.  “Zoe has proven that she is one of our most gifted actresses and we think she has the perfect combination of spirit and gravitas to take on the title role from Ira Levin’s infamous novel,” said Quinn Taylor, Executive Vice President, Movies, Miniseries and International Co-Productions, NBC Entertainment. “With Zoe leading the cast under the direction of Agnieszka Holland, this reimagined event mini-series is off to a great start.”
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson

African-American Female Writers Leslie Jones and LaKendra Tookes Join Writing Staff of "Saturday Night Live"

By goodblacknews on January 8, 2014

Leslie Jones
Leslie Jones

LaKendra Tookes

According to Variety.com, NBC sketch-comedy show Saturday Night Live added Leslie Jones and LaKendra Tookes, two comedians who recently auditioned for the program, as writers for the late-night series. Earlier this week, the show announced Sasheer Zamata, a veteran of improv troupe Upright Citizens Brigade, would begin as a featured player as of its January 18 broadcast.
The two new writers took part in auditions recently held in different parts of the U.S. with the express purpose of finding a female African-American to join the show’s cast of “Not Ready For Prime Time Players.”
While the current cast of Saturday Night Live includes two African-American men – Kenan Thompson and Jay Pharoah – it has not had an African-American woman in the cast since Maya Rudolph, a comic actress of mixed heritage, was in the cast between 2000 and 2007.
The show has not featured many women of color during its history.  Yvonne Hudson, an African-American woman, was a featured player during the program’s 1980-1981 season.  Danitra Vance, SNL‘s first African-American female full cast member, joined the show for its 1985-1986 season, part of show creator Lorne Michaels’ return to the program after an absence of several years. Ellen Cleghorne joined the cast from 1991-1995.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson

NBC Orders Craig Robinson Comedy to Series

By goodblacknews on January 6, 2014

Craig Robertson
Craig Robinson (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

NBC has handed a series order to a half-hour comedy from The Office co-star Craig Robinson.  Mr. Robinson centers on a journeyman musician who gets a job as a music teacher at a middle school. While teaching the kids everything from rock to the blues, he simultaneously learns how to put the school’s rules to the test. NBC has given the project a six-episode order.
Robinson will star in the comedy, which was initially ordered to pilot in early 2013. The Office showrunner Greg Daniels was attached to the laffer last year but has since departed Mr. Robinson.  Universal TV and 3 Arts Entertainment will produce Mr. Robinson, with Mark Cullen, Rob Cullen, Howard Klein and Mark Schulman executive producing.

article by AJ Marechal via Variety.com